ELROY Withrite, also known as ‘Eddie,’ has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for the murder of his 43-year-old neighbour, Andrew Drakes, also known as ‘Beach Clothes’.

Justice Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus handed down the sentence on Wednesday, excluding the time Withrite had spent in pre-trial detention, which the prison authorities are to deduct from his sentence.

The 25-year-old Withrite had pleaded guilty to the charge of murder in September 2024.

The tragic incident had occurred on June 8, 2019, in the East Bank Essequibo community of Farm, following a prior dispute between the two men.

Drakes, a father of three, and Withrite were neighbours who had an altercation on the day before the murder.

According to court records, witnesses reported hearing screams on Pump Station Street, where Drakes was later found lying face down in a pool of blood.

On closer inspection, it was found that he had sustained multiple injuries, including eight incised wounds.

Withrite was apprehended at the scene of the crime, still holding a cutlass. In his confession to the police, Withrite claimed he’d attacked Drakes in retaliation for an alleged sexual assault on June 7, 2019.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that Drakes died from shock and haemorrhage caused by the injuries he’d sustained. Disturbingly, Drakes was attacked in front of his five-year-old child.

Withrite’s sentencing, initially set for September 17, 2024, was delayed for a mental state evaluation.

Following the assessment, the court confirmed that Withrite was fit to proceed with the sentencing hearing, and the psychiatric report was presented during Wednesday’s hearing.

Defence Attorney Kezia Williams represented Withrite, while State Counsel Alvaro Ramotar prosecuted the case.

Justice Isaacs-Marcus acknowledged the severity and prevalence of the crime, and the profound impact it had on Drakes’ family, particularly his young child who’d witnessed the murder.

The judge took into account several mitigating factors, including Withrite’s guilty plea, his previously clean criminal record, his youth, and his good character.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered that Withrite undergo therapy for his substance abuse disorder, and participate in academic or vocational rehabilitation programmes.

Counselling was also ordered for the victim’s family, especially his child who’d witnessed the attack.